Movies & Documentaries

On this page I have brought together a number of full length programs. Some of these are documentaries, some are feature movies. While these are all full length, some of them are split into multiple parts due to limits by YouTube. Some movies made for commercial distribution often use "dramatic license" and contain inaccuracies. They may not be true to Biblical detail.[NOTICE - From time to time YouTube may remove videos due to copyright issues so if some links no longer work, that is the reason.]

This picture above is a street scene on Ben Yehuda Street taken by my wife in 2012. Ben Yehuda Street, known as the "Midrachov" is a major street in downtown Jerusalem, Israel. It is now a pedestrian mall and closed to vehicular traffic.

Jerusalem (1:52) -This is a trailer clip for the movie. "Filmed for the first time in 3D and for the giant screen, JERUSALEM immerses audiences into one of the world's most beloved cities. Discover why this tiny piece of land is sacred to three major religions through the stories of Jewish, Christian and Muslim families who call Jerusalem home. Unprecedented access to the city's holiest sites, as well as rare and breathtaking aerial footage of the Old City and the Holy Land, combine to make JERUSALEM a unique and stunning cinematic experience. The film tells multiple stories. There’s the story of what it means to live in Jerusalem today from the perspective of three female teenagers (Jewish, Christian and Muslim) and their families who have long-standing ties to the city. There’s the detective story told by the narrator, Benedict Cumberbatch, and the renowned archaeologist, Dr. Jodi Magness, which looks at how we know what we know about Jerusalem’s past and reveals some of its mysteries. Finally there is a spiritual story looking at how Jerusalem became a holy city for half our population, culminating with ancient rituals as they are still performed in Jerusalem today, during Passover, Easter and Ramadan."

"JERUSALEM will play on IMAX® and Giant Screens primarily in Museums and Science Centers around the world, starting in September 2013. The film is made for IMAX® and Giant Screens."

www.jerusalemthemovie.com - Check the web site to see where the movie is playing! It is also available on DVD from various online sites. See link on their web site.

The 50 Years War: Israel and the Arabs - 1999 documentary. "Leading statesmen, generals, terrorists and others who made the headlines in one of history's most bitter and enduring struggles tell the story of the Arab-Israeli conflict in The 50 Years War: Israel and the Arabs. Opening with the U.N decision to partition Palestine in 1947, the program charts the ensuing half-century of enmity, warfare, mediation and negotiation." See here for movie details.Part 1 (2:25:58) Part 2 (2:26:28)

Against All Odds: In Search of a Miracle (1:41:57) - Starring Michael Greenspan. A docu-drama (if I can use that term). Experience what some have called the modern miracles of Israel through the eyes of a seasoned journalist, Michael Greenspan, and explore the question: why has Israel survived against all the odds? Released in 2005 as part of a TV series, see herefor movie details.

Battlefield Detectives - Israel's Six Day War (45:13) - At 7:45 a.m. on June 5, 1967, Israel launched the most successful preemptive air strike in military history. Within a few hours, virtually the entire Egyptian Air Force lay in smouldering wreckage. Fighting on three fronts, against the combined might of five different armies, Israel secured a stunning victory in a mere six days. How did this tiny state manage to overcome an Arab enemy that had twice as many soldiers, three times as many tanks, and four times as many airplanes? With firsthand testimony from combatants and military planners plus access to key figures in the intelligence world, we gain insight into the meticulous preparations that the Israeli military undertook in the 1960's. (A 45 minute video split into five parts.) Released in 2005 as an episode of the US History Channel's "Battlefield Detectives" TV series, see herefor movie details.

The Birth of Israel (58:44) - 2008 BBC Documentary examining the events leading up to the Israeli war of Independence in 1949, its continuing impact on Arab/Israeli relations and the implications for the Middle East peace process.

David and Goliath (1:31:40) - Starring Orson Welles as King Saul. This is a 1960 Italian produced movie. See here for movie details.

The Devil's Arithmetic (1:28:54) - WARNING: This is a movie about the Holocaust and may have some scenes which some viewers may find disturbing! "Hannah Stern is a young Jewish girl living in the present day. She is bored by her relative’s stories about the past and not looking forward to the Passover Seder. She says she is tired of remembering. When Hannah symbolically opens the door for the prophet Elijah, she is transported back in time to 1942 in Poland of World War II." US movie released in 1999, see here for movie details.

Faith and Fate (1:07:09) - This is a documentary telling the story of the Jews in the 20th Century. The first Episode is called, "The Dawn of the Century" and covers 1900 - 1910. Only the first episode is available on YouTube. Three other episodes are available for purchase and nine more are planned for future production. The full list can be seen here. DVD's can be purchased here.

﻿The Forgotten Refugees﻿ (49:01) - "The Forgotten Refugees is a 2005 documentary film produced by The David Project and IsraTV that recounts the rich history of the ancient Jewish communities of the Middle East and North Africa and their rapid demise in the face of persecution in the decades following the creation of the modern State of Israel in 1948."

The Fork (4:41) - This is a very short but moving story. Released in 2008, see herefor movie details. (Video quality a little fuzzy.)

The Great Promise (49:36) - Hebrew title "Dim'at Ha'Nehamah Ha'Gedolah ". Made in 1947 in Palestine just before Israel became a country. English with Hungarian subtitles. "Three stories of Jewish Palestine, showing the life of the collective, the rehabilitating power of kibbutz society and the course of the Jordan river. When, in 1945, the Allied armies reach the concentration camps, a Jewish survivor is surrounded by a number of soldiers of the Jewish Brigade from Mandatory Palestine. The refugee declares that he has no home or family but only the memory of two thousand years of exile. In answer the men from Palestine tell him their stories. One tells of his last leave, how he arrived just as his child was born to be not a wanderer but a tiller of the land where his father has worked before him. Then there is the story of the homeless children from war-ridden Europe, who gradually adjust themselves to new surroundings and to happiness. Finally there is the story of the River Jordan, a source of inspiration, how it makes fertile the fields, provides the motive force for the power station of Naharayim and finally arrives at the Dead Sea, where valuable salts are obtained. The refugee thus learns that there is still the hope of a happy future for him in Palestine." See hereand herefor movie details.

The History of Jerusalem (1:54:53) - This documentary chronicles the history of Jerusalem, showing the various contributions made by religious groups that have made he city what it is today. The first hour deals mainly with ancient history, and the second half focuses on modern history of the reconstitution of the Jewish state. (Movie is split into 12 parts but they will play automatically in succession.)

The Home Game(1:04:19) - In 2004, the Government of Israel ordered the withdrawal of all Israelis from the Gaza strip. As a result 23 Israeli communities comprising 10,000 people were uprooted. This is the story of the community of Netzer Hazani. Three weeks before the disengagement, the annual Gush Katif youth basketball tournament begins. All Israelis are ordered to leave by August 15. The final game is scheduled for August 15.

Inside Judaism - Jewish History (1:51:39) - "Documentary on the history of Judaism, the Bible (Torah/Tanakh) and the Jewish people of Israel. This documentary focuses on many accepts of the origins of the Jewish religion known today as Judaism, as well as the historical and archaeological proof that the Jews are Canaanites in origin."

Israel: A Nation is Born - A 1994 mini-series. "This six-part chronicle of the birth and development of the Jewish state is hosted and narrated by former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Abba Eban, who also hosted Heritage: Civilization and the Jews. Eban, who played a pivotal role in realizing the dream of a Jewish state, points out that "the series is designed to provide an essential context to an inspiring human story." See here for movie details.

Israel: Birth of a Nation(1:31:21) - "Israel didn't exist for nearly 2000 years but yet the Bible made clear that Israel would be in the land that The Lord promised Abraham again and would play a major role in end times scenarios. This is the story of that miracle that was made by The History Channel in 1996." See herefor movie details.

JAI - The Numbers of Life (9:15) - This is just a short film ... actually only 7 minutes as the credits take up the rest ... and it's in Spanish with English subtitles. It's related to the Holocaust but pay attention to what the little girl says at the end - that's very important!

The Jewish Americans - "Originally broadcast on PBS, The Jewish-Americans covers 350 years in the lives of Jews who have struggled to maintain their religious identity and still be fully accepted as Americans. It is a story at once specific and universal, one that can be appreciated by any ethnic or religious minority who tests whether 'democracy, like America, can find room for everyone.'" Parts 1 & 2 (1:55:06) - They Came to Stay & A World of Their OwnPart 3 (1:54:04) - The Best of Times, the Worst of TimesPart 4 (1:50:45) - Home

Jewish Diaspora (2:40:04) - "Documentary on Israeli Jewish history and the Jewish diaspora in Europe and the Middle East." This documentary is in two parts. If the second part does not play automatically, click here.

The Kiddush Man (12:18) - A short Columbia University thesis film, and was awarded the National Board of Review Award by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures in the US. "A coming-of-age drama set in Israel, about a 10-year-old boy, Yoni, who attends synagogue with his father every Sabbath. Each week, Yoni attempts to sneak past curmudgeonly Mr. Katz, and into the kiddush reception, before the end of services - but one day, Mr. Katz is nowhere to be seen."

Kingdom of David - Saga of the Israelites - Productions of the PBS EMPIRES® series, a ground breaking series of epic historical films which present the people and passions that have changed the world. US TV movie released in 2003, see herefor movie details.

Episode 2: The Book and the Sword (55:18) - Ezra reads the Bible to illiterate Judeans in 458 B.C.; the Maccabees defend their religious freedom.

Episode 3: The End of Days (55:19) - Conflict erupts between Jews and Romans when Pompeii enters Judah in 63 B.C.

Episode 4: The Gifts of the Jews (55:18) - In 70 A.D. Rabbis struggle to reinvigorate Judaism after the Romans destroy temples; the rise of Christianity.

Nicky's Family - Trailer (2:45) - This is a trailer only, the full movie is not available on YouTube. I have included it here as I have seen it and I highly recommend it. The YouTube description reads: "A gripping documentary film with feature reenactments about the rescue operation, that has no parallel in modern history, is finally fully revealed. Sir Nicholas Winton (102 years old) saved 669 children at the outbreak of WWII. His story even after 70 years inspire people to make this world a better place." This was a few years ago - Sir Nicholas died on July 1, 2015 at age 106. Wikipedia describes Sir Nicholas as "Sir Nicholas George Winton MBE was a British humanitarian who organized the rescue of 669 children, most of them Jewish, from Czechoslovakia on the eve of the Second World War in an operation later known as the Czech Kindertransport." The story is narrated by Joe Schlesinger, a Canadian broadcaster and author who was one of "Nicky's children." You can rent or purchase the movie to download on iTunes, or buy the DVD on Amazon.

Noah's Ark (2:14:21) - This is the 1999 TV miniseries starring Jon Voight and Mary Steenburgen. As the opening statement says, they've taken a lot of "poetic license" with the story so it strays quite a bit from biblical accuracy but it's still an entertaining movie to watch. See here for movie details.

One Night With the King (1:57:18) - 2006 movie "'One Night With The King' chronicles the life of the young Jewish girl, Hadassah, who goes on to become the Biblical Esther, the Queen of Persia, and saves the Jewish nation from annihilation." See here for movie details.

Pillar of Fire - "Pillar of Fire is a (1981) mini series documentary of the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), named after the Pillar of Fire, the biblical phenomena which led the ancient Israelites to the Promised Land during their exodus from Egypt. It presents the History and narrative of Zionism from the late 19th century until the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948."

Quest For the Lost Tribes (1:30:36) -"Conquered by the mighty Assyrian Empire over 2,700 years ago, ten of the twelve tribes of Israel apparently vanished into the mists of history. But, a dedicated team of documentary filmmakers believes that remarkable new findings could confirm the Tribes' existence and whereabouts. Pursuing clues across time and space from the Middle East to India, Afghanistan and even the Native American West, they attempt to sort myth from reality." A Canadian documentary by Simcha Jacobovici released in 2003. See herefor movie details.

The Spielberg Jewish Film Archive - "The 500 films, selected for the virtual cinema, reflect the vast scope of documentary material collected in the Spielberg Archive. The films range from 1911 to the present and include home movies, short films and full length features." The following one I found particular interesting.

My Brother and I (23:55) - "Two Moroccan brothers come to Israel, with Youth Aliyah, and integrate into kibbutz life." This film is from 1951.

The Story of Ruth (2:11:39) - 1960 movie starring Stuart Whitman as Boaz. Released in 1960. Inspired by the Biblical story, Moabitess priestess Ruth is drawn both to a Judean man and to his talk of a forgiving God. After tragedy strikes, she begins a new life in Bethlehem. See here for movie details.

Triumph of Spirit (31:42) - "A film about the life and personality of Dror Weinberg, a high ranking combat soldier in the Israeli army who was seen by many to one day become the chief of Staff of the IDF. Dror was unfortunately killed in a battle in the city of Hebron in 2002. This is a fascinating movie about the eldest son who goes on a journey to learn about his father who he lost at a young age. He ends up learning about who his father was and the type of life that he led, which were a true example to all."

Ushpizin (1:28:37) - "In Jerusalem's orthodox neighborhoods, it's Succoth, seven days celebrating life's essentials in a sukkot, a temporary shack of both deprivation and hospitality. A devout couple, Moshe and Mali, married nearly five years and childless, are broke and praying for a miracle. Suddenly, miracles abound: a friend finds Moshe a sukkot he says is abandoned, Moshe is the beneficiary of local charitable fundraising, and two escaped convicts arrive on Moshe and Mali's doorstep in time to be their ushpizin - their guests. The miracles then become trials. Rabbinical advice, absolution, an effort to avoid anger, and a 1000-shekel citron figure in Moshe's dark night of the soul." Israeli movie released in 2004, see herefor movie details. [Moshe and Mali are played by husband and wife couple Shuli Rand and Michal Bat-Sheva Rand both of whom according to Wikipedia had never acted before. It was also written by Shuli Rand.]

[This is probably the best movie on this page - Israeli production in Hebrew with English subtitles - The link above is currently working however due to copyright issues it may be removed from YouTube at any time. If you can find it anywhere, I highly recommend it.]